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PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
BLUE VALLEY BAN CORP.
and
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Dated: ___________________, 2000
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I....................................................................1
1.01 DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS......................................1
ARTICLE II...................................................................5
2.01 TRUST INDENTURE ACT; APPLICATION.....................................5
2.02 LISTS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES.......................................5
2.03 REPORTS BY THE PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE...........................5
2.04 PERIODIC REPORTS TO PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE......................5
2.05 EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.....................5
2.06 EVENTS OF DEFAULT; WAIVER............................................6
2.07 EVENT OF DEFAULT; NOTICE.............................................6
2.08 CONFLICTING INTERESTS................................................6
ARTICLE III..................................................................6
3.01 POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.................6
3.02 CERTAIN RIGHTS OF PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE........................8
3.03 NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS OR ISSUANCE OF GUARANTEE...............10
3.04 COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT......................................10
ARTICLE IV..................................................................11
4.01 PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE; ELIGIBILITY............................11
4.02 APPOINTMENT, REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF PREFERRED
GUARANTEE TRUSTEES.............................................11
ARTICLE V...................................................................12
5.01 GUARANTEE...........................................................12
5.02 WAIVER OF NOTICE AND DEMAND.........................................12
5.03 OBLIGATIONS NOT AFFECTED............................................13
5.04 RIGHTS OF HOLDERS...................................................13
5.05 GUARANTEE OF PAYMENT................................................14
5.06 SUBROGATION.........................................................14
5.07 INDEPENDENT OBLIGATIONS.............................................14
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ARTICLE VI..................................................................14
6.01 LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS..........................................14
6.02 RANKING.............................................................15
ARTICLE VII.................................................................15
7.01 TERMINATION.........................................................15
ARTICLE VIII................................................................15
8.01 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.............................................15
8.02 AMENDMENTS..........................................................15
8.03 NOTICES.............................................................15
8.04 BENEFIT.............................................................16
8.05 GOVERNING LAW.......................................................16
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CROSS REFERENCE TABLE
Section of Trust Indenture Act
of 1939, as Amended Section of Guarantee Agreement
310(a)..............................4.01(a)
310(b)..............................4.01(c), 2.08
310(c)..............................Inapplicable
311(a)..............................2.02(b)
311(b)..............................2.02(b)
311(c)..............................Inapplicable
312(a)..............................2.02(a)
312(b)..............................2.02(b)
313.................................2.03
314(a)..............................2.04
314(b)..............................Inapplicable
314(c)..............................2.05
314(d)..............................Inapplicable
314(e)..............................1.01, 2.05, 3.02
314(f) .............................2.01, 3.02
315(a)..............................3.01(d)
315(b)..............................2.07
315(c)..............................3.01
315(d)..............................3.01(d)
316(a)..............................1.01, 3.06, 5.04
316(b)..............................5.03
316(c)..............................8.02
317(a)..............................Inapplicable
317(b)..............................Inapplicable
318(a)..............................2.01(b)
318(b)..............................2.01
318(c)..............................2.01(a)
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PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (the "Preferred Securities Guarantee"), dated as
of ___________________, 2000, is executed and delivered by BLUE VALLEY BAN
CORP., a Kansas corporation (the "Guarantor"), and WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, a
Delaware banking corporation, as trustee (the "Preferred Guarantee Trustee"),
for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the
Preferred Securities (as defined herein) of BVBC CAPITAL TRUST I, a Delaware
statutory business trust ("BVBC Trust").
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Trust Agreement (the "Trust
Agreement") dated as of ______________, 2000 among the trustees of BVBC Trust
named therein, the Guarantor, as sponsor, and the holders from time to time of
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of BVBC Trust, BVBC Trust is
issuing up to 1,437,500 preferred securities, having an aggregate liquidation
amount of up to $11,500,000 designated the _____% Cumulative Trust Preferred
Securities (the "Preferred Securities"); and
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Preferred
Securities, the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to
the extent set forth in this Preferred Securities Guarantee, to pay to the
Holders of the Preferred Securities the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein)
and to make certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder of
Preferred Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit
the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Preferred Securities
Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
1.01 DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS. In this Preferred Securities
Guarantee, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) capitalized terms used in this Preferred Securities Guarantee
but not defined in the preamble above have the respective meanings
assigned to them in this Section 1.01;
(b) a term defined anywhere in this Preferred Securities
Guarantee has the same meaning throughout;
(c) all references to "the Preferred Securities Guarantee" or "this
Preferred Securities Guarantee" are to this Preferred Securities Guarantee
as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;
(d) all references in this Preferred Securities Guarantee to
Articles and Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee, unless otherwise specified;
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(e) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning
when used in this Preferred Securities Guarantee, unless otherwise defined
in this Preferred Securities Guarantee or unless the context otherwise
requires; and
(f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice
versa.
"Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor rule thereunder.
"Business Day" means any day other than (a) a Saturday or Sunday, (b) a
day on which banking institutions in the State of Kansas are authorized or
required by law or executive order to remain closed, or (c) a day on which the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee's Corporate Trust Office is closed for business.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee
shall, at any particular time, be principally administered, which office at the
date of execution of this Agreement is located at 1100 North Market Street,
Wilmington, Delaware 19890-0001, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration.
"Covered Person" means any Holder or beneficial owner of Preferred
Securities.
"Debt" means with respect to any person, whether recourse is to all or a
portion of the assets of such person and whether or not contingent: (a) every
obligation of such person for money borrowed; (b) every obligation of such
person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments,
including obligations incurred in connection with the acquisition of property,
assets or businesses; (c) every reimbursement obligation of such person with
respect to letters of credit, bankers' acceptances or similar facilities issued
for the account of such person; (d) every obligation of such person issued or
assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (but excluding
trade accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of
business); (e) every capital lease obligation of such person; and (f) every
obligation of the type referred to in clauses (a) through (e) of another person
and all dividends of another person the payment of which, in either case, such
person has guaranteed or for which such person is responsible or liable,
directly or indirectly, as obligor or otherwise.
"Event of Default" means a default by the Guarantor on any of its payment
or other obligations under this Preferred Securities Guarantee.
"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions,
without duplication, with respect to the Preferred Securities, to the extent not
paid or made by BVBC Trust: (a) any accrued and unpaid Distributions (as defined
in the Trust Agreement) that are required to be paid on such Preferred
Securities to the extent BVBC Trust shall have funds available therefor, (b) the
redemption price, including all accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date of
redemption (the "Redemption Price") to the extent BVBC Trust has funds available
therefor, with respect to any Preferred Securities called for redemption by BVBC
Trust, and (c) upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or
termination of BVBC Trust (other than in connection with the distribution of
Junior Subordinated Debentures to the Holders in exchange for Preferred
Securities as provided in the Trust Agreement), the lesser of (i) the
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aggregate of the liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid Distributions on
the Preferred Securities to the date of payment, to the extent BVBC Trust shall
have funds available therefor, and (ii) the amount of assets of BVBC Trust
remaining available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of BVBC Trust (in
either case, the "Liquidation Distribution").
"Holder" shall mean any holder, as registered on the books and records of
BVBC Trust of any Preferred Securities; provided, however, that, in determining
whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Preferred Securities have
given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder" shall not
include the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor.
"Indemnified Person" means the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, any Affiliate
of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, or any officers, directors, shareholders,
members, partners, employees, representatives, nominees, custodians or agents of
the Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
"Indenture" means the Subordinated Indenture dated as of
___________________, 2000, among the Guarantor (the "Debenture Issuer") and
Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee, and any indenture supplemental thereto
pursuant to which the Junior Subordinated Debentures are to be issued to the
Property Trustee (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of BVBC Trust.
"Junior Subordinated Debentures" means the series of junior subordinated
deferrable interest debt securities of the Guarantor designated the _____%
Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2030 held by the Property Trustee of BVBC
Trust.
"Majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities" means, except
as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, a vote by Holders of Preferred
Securities, voting separately as a class, of more than 50% of the liquidation
amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption,
liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon
which the voting percentages are determined) of all Preferred Securities.
"Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a certificate
signed by two Authorized officers of such Person. Any Officers' Certificate
delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for
in this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall include:
(a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers' Certificate
has read the covenant or condition and the definition relating thereto;
(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or
investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Officers'
Certificate;
(c) a statement that each such officer has made such examination or
investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such
officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant
or condition has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer,
such condition or covenant has been complied with.
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"Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation,
estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited
liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any
agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.
"Preferred Guarantee Trustee" means Wilmington Trust Company, until a
Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such
appointment pursuant to the terms of this Preferred Securities Guarantee and
thereafter means each such Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee, any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee with direct responsibility for the administration of this
Preferred Securities Guarantee, including any vice-president, any assistant
vice-president, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer
or other officer of the Corporate Trust Office of the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of
the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular
corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred
because of that officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular
subject.
"Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Preferred
Guarantee Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as Preferred Guarantee
Trustee under Section 4.01.
"Senior and Subordinated Debt" means the principal of (and premium, if
any) and interest, if any (including interest accruing on or after the filing of
any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Guarantor
whether or not such claim for post-petition interest is allowed in such
proceeding), on Debt of the Guarantor, whether incurred on or prior to the date
of the Indenture or thereafter incurred, unless, in the instrument creating or
evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, it is provided
that such obligations are not superior in right of payment to the Preferred
Securities Guarantee or to other Debt which is pari passu with, or subordinated
to, the Preferred Securities Guarantee; provided, however, that Senior and
Subordinated Debt shall not be deemed to include (a) any Debt of the Guarantor
which when incurred and without respect to any election under section 1111(b) of
the United States Bankruptcy Code of 1978, as amended, was without recourse to
the Guarantor, (b) any Debt of the Guarantor to any of its subsidiaries, (c) any
Debt to any employee of the Guarantor, (d) any Debt which by its terms is
subordinated to trade accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the
ordinary course of business to the extent that payments made to the holders of
such Debt by the holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures as a result of
the subordination provisions of the Indenture would be greater than they
otherwise would have been as a result of any obligation of such holders to pay
amounts over to the obligees on such trade accounts payable or accrued
liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business as a result of the
subordination provisions to which such Debt is subject, (e) the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, and (f) any other debt securities issued pursuant to
the Indenture.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
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ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
2.01 TRUST INDENTURE ACT; APPLICATION.
(a) This Preferred Securities Guarantee is subject to the provisions
of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by
such provisions; and
(b) If and to the extent that any provision of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties
imposed by Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act,
such imposed duties shall control.
2.02 LISTS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES.
(a) The Guarantor shall provide the Preferred Guarantee Trustee with
a list, in such form as the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may reasonably
require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of the Preferred
Securities ("List of Holders") (i) on or before January 15 and July 15 of
each year, and (ii) at any other time within 30 days of receipt by the
Guarantor of a written request for a List of Holders, as of a date no more
than 14 days before such List of Holders is given to the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee provided, that the Guarantor shall not be obligated to
provide such List of Holders at any time the List of Holders does not
differ from the most recent List of Holders given to the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee by the Guarantor. The Preferred Guarantee Trustee may
destroy any List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new
List of Holders.
(b) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall comply with its
obligations under Sections 311(a), 311(b) and Section 312(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act.
2.03 REPORTS BY THE PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE. On or before July 31 of
each year, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall provide to the Holders of the
Preferred Securities such reports as are required by Section 313 of the Trust
Indenture Act, if any, in the form and in the manner provided by Section 313 of
the Trust Indenture Act. The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall also comply with
the requirements of Section 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.
2.04 PERIODIC REPORTS TO PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE. The Guarantor shall
provide to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee such documents, reports and
information as required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act, if any, and
the compliance certificate required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act in
the form, in the manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the Trust
Indenture Act.
2.05 EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITIONS PRECEDENT. The Guarantor shall
provide to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee such evidence of compliance with the
conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Preferred Securities
Guarantee that relate to any of the matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the
Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required to be given by an
officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act may be given in
the form of an Officers' Certificate.
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2.06 EVENTS OF DEFAULT; WAIVER. The Holders of a Majority in liquidation
amount of Preferred Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders of all of
the Preferred Securities, waive any past Event of Default and its consequences.
Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any Event
of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every
purpose of this Preferred Securities Guarantee, but no such waiver shall extend
to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right
consequent thereon.
2.07 EVENT OF DEFAULT; NOTICE.
(a) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days after the
occurrence of an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer
of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, transmit by mail, first class postage
prepaid, to the Holders of the Preferred Securities, notices of all Events
of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee, unless such defaults have been cured before the giving
of such notice, provided, that, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be
protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a Responsible
Officer of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee in good faith determines that
the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the
Preferred Securities.
(b) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have
knowledge of any Event of Default unless the Preferred Guarantee Trustee
shall have received a properly addressed written notice, or of which a
Responsible Officer of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee charged with the
administration of the Trust Agreement shall have obtained actual
knowledge.
2.08 CONFLICTING INTERESTS. The Trust Agreement shall be deemed to be
specifically described in this Preferred Securities Guarantee for the purposes
of clause (i) of the first proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act.
ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF
PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
3.01 POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.
(a) This Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be held by the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the
Preferred Securities, and the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not
transfer this Preferred Securities Guarantee to any Person except a Holder
of Preferred Securities exercising such Holder's rights pursuant to
Section 5.04(b) or to a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee on
acceptance by such Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee of its
appointment to act as Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee. The right,
title and interest of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall automatically
vest in any Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee, and such vesting and
cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing
documents have been executed and delivered pursuant to the appointment of
such Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
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(b) If an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer
of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee has occurred and is continuing, the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this Preferred Securities
Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities.
(c) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any
Event of Default and after the curing of all Events of Default that may
have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as are
specifically set forth in this Preferred Securities Guarantee, and no
implied covenants shall be read into this Preferred Securities Guarantee
against the Preferred Guarantee Trustee. In case an Event of Default has
occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.06) and
is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of the rights
and powers vested in it by this Preferred Securities Guarantee, and use
the same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof, as a prudent
person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of
such person's own affairs.
(d) No provision of this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be
construed to relieve the Preferred Guarantee Trustee from liability for
its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own
willful misconduct, except that:
(i) prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the
curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have
occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of
this Preferred Securities Guarantee, and the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such
duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this
Preferred Securities Guarantee, and no implied covenants or
obligations shall be read into this Preferred Securities
Guarantee against the Preferred Guarantee Trustee; and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may
conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the
correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any
certificates or opinions furnished to the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee; but in the case of any such certificates or
opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required
to be furnished to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to
determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this
Preferred Securities Guarantee;
(ii) the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any
error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the
Preferred Guarantee
7
Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which
such judgment was made;
(iii) the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable with
respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith
in accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than a
Majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities relating to
the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, or exercising any trust
or power conferred upon the Preferred Guarantee Trustee under this
Preferred Securities Guarantee; and
(iv) no provision of this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall
require the Preferred Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk its own
funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its
rights or powers if the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have
reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of such funds or
liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this
Preferred Securities Guarantee or indemnity, reasonably satisfactory
to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, against such risk or liability is
not reasonably assured to it.
3.02 CERTAIN RIGHTS OF PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.01:
(i) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely upon,
and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon,
any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report,
notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note,
other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by
it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or presented by the
proper party or parties.
(ii) Any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this
Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be sufficiently evidenced by an
Officers' Certificate.
(iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall deem it
desirable that a matter be proved or established before taking,
suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may,
in the absence of bad faith on its part, request and conclusively rely
upon an Officers' Certificate which, upon receipt of such request,
shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor.
(iv) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have no duty to see to
any recording, filing or registration of any instrument (or any
re-recording, re-filing or registration thereof).
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(v) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee may consult with counsel, and
the written advice or opinion of such counsel with respect to legal
matters shall be full and complete authorization and protection in
respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in
good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion. Such counsel
may be counsel to the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may
include any of its employees. The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall
have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the
administration of this Preferred Securities Guarantee from any court
of competent jurisdiction.
(vi) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation
to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Preferred
Securities Guarantee at the request or direction of any Holder, unless
such Holder shall have provided to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee
such security and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee, against the costs, expenses (including attorneys'
fees and expenses and the expenses of the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee's agents, nominees or custodians) and liabilities that might
be incurred by it in complying with such request or direction,
including such reasonable advances as may be requested by the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee; provided that, nothing contained in this
Section 3.02(a)(vi) shall be taken to relieve the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default actually known to
a Responsible Officer of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, of its
obligation to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this
Preferred Securities Guarantee.
(vii) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be bound to make
any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution,
certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request,
direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of
indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or
investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit. The
reasonable expense of every such investigation shall be paid by the
Guarantor or, if paid by the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, shall be
repaid by the Guarantor upon demand.
(viii) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the
trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either
directly or by or through agents, nominees, custodians or attorneys,
and the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be responsible for any
misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney
appointed with due care by it hereunder.
(ix) Any action taken by the Preferred Guarantee Trustee or its
agents hereunder shall bind the Holders of the Preferred Securities,
and the signature of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee or its agents
alone shall be sufficient and effective to perform any such action. No
third party shall be required to inquire as to the authority of the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee to so act or as to its compliance with any
of the terms and provisions of this Preferred Securities
9
Guarantee, both of which shall be conclusively evidenced by the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee's or its agent's taking such action.
(x) Whenever in the administration of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable to
receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or
taking any other action hereunder, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee (A)
may request instructions from the Holders of a Majority in liquidation
amount of the Preferred Securities, (B) may refrain from enforcing
such remedy or right or taking such other action until such
instructions are received, and (C) shall be protected in conclusively
relying on or acting in accordance with such instructions.
(xi) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be charged with
knowledge of any default or Event of Default hereunder unless a
Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee shall have knowledge of
the default or Event of Default.
(b) No provision of this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be
deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Preferred Guarantee Trustee
to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation
conferred or imposed on it in any jurisdiction in which it shall be
illegal, or in which the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be unqualified
or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any such act
or acts or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No
permissive power or authority available to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee
shall be construed to be a duty.
3.03 NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS OR ISSUANCE OF GUARANTEE. The recitals
contained in this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be taken as the
statements of the Guarantor, and the Preferred Guarantee Trustee does not assume
any responsibility for their correctness. The Preferred Guarantee Trustee makes
no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee.
3.04 COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT.
(a) The Guarantor covenants and agrees to pay to the Preferred
Guarantor Trustee, and the Preferred Guarantor Trustee shall be entitled
to, such reasonable compensation (which shall not be limited by any
provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express
trust), as the Guarantor and the Preferred Guarantor Trustee may from time
to time agree in writing, for all services rendered by it in the execution
of the trusts hereby created and in the exercise and performance of any of
the powers and duties hereunder of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, and,
except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Guarantor will pay or
reimburse the Preferred Guarantor Trustee upon its request for all
reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the
Preferred Guarantor Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of
this Preferred Securities Guarantee (including the reasonable compensation
and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all Persons not
regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance
as may arise from its negligence or bad faith. The Guarantor also
covenants to indemnify the
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Preferred Guarantor Trustee (and its officers, agents, directors and
employees) for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or
expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on the part of the
Preferred Guarantor Trustee and arising out of or in connection with the
acceptance or administration of this trust, including the costs and
expenses of defending itself against any claims of liability in the
premises.
(b) When the Preferred Guarantor Trustee incurs expenses or renders
services after an Event of Default specified in Section 7.01(iv), (v) or
(vi) of the Indenture occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the
services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under the
Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978 or any successor statute. The provisions of
this Section 3.04 shall survive termination of the Preferred Securities
Guarantee.
ARTICLE IV
PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
4.01 PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE; ELIGIBILITY.
(a) There shall at all times be a Preferred Guarantee Trustee
which shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and
(ii) be a corporation organized and doing business under the
laws of the United States of America or any state or territory
thereof or of the District of Columbia, or a corporation or Person
permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission to act as an
institutional trustee under the Trust Indenture Act, authorized
under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a
combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, and subject to
supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial or
District of Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes
reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the
requirements of the supervising or examining authority referred to
above, then, for the purposes of this Section 4.01(a)(ii), the
combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to
be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent
report of condition so published.
(b) If at any time the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be
eligible to so act under Section 4.01(a), the Preferred Guarantee Trustee
shall immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set out in
Section 4.02(c).
(c) If the Preferred Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any
"conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee and Guarantor shall in all
respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act.
4.02 APPOINTMENT, REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF PREFERRED GUARANTEE
TRUSTEES.
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(a) Subject to Section 4.02(b), the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may
be appointed or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor.
(b) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed in
accordance with Section 4.02(a) until a Successor Preferred Guarantee
Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by written
instrument executed by such Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee and
delivered to the Guarantor.
(c) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee appointed to office shall hold
office until a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have been
appointed or until its removal or resignation. The Preferred Guarantee
Trustee may resign from office (without need for prior or subsequent
accounting) by an instrument in writing executed by the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor, which resignation shall
not take effect until a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee has been
appointed and has accepted such appointment by instrument in writing
executed by such Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee and delivered to
the Guarantor and the resigning Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
(d) If no Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have been
appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.02 within
60 days after delivery to the Guarantor of an instrument of resignation,
the resigning Preferred Guarantee Trustee may petition any court of
competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Preferred Guarantee
Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any,
as it may deem proper, appoint a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
(e) No Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be liable for the acts or
omissions to act of any Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
(f) Upon termination of this Preferred Securities Guarantee or
removal or resignation of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee pursuant to this
Section 4.02, the Guarantor shall pay to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee
all amounts accrued to the date of such termination, removal or
resignation.
ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE
5.01 GUARANTEE. The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to
pay in full to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of
amounts theretofore paid by BVBC Trust), as and when due, regardless of any
defense, right of set-off or counterclaim that BVBC Trust may have or assert.
The Guarantor's obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by
direct payment of the required amounts by the Guarantor to the Holders or by
causing BVBC Trust to pay such amounts to the Holders.
5.02 WAIVER OF NOTICE AND DEMAND. The Guarantor hereby waives notice of
acceptance of this Preferred Securities Guarantee and of any liability to which
it applies or may apply, presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a
proceeding first against BVBC Trust or any other Person before proceeding
against the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice
of redemption and all other notices and demands.
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5.03 OBLIGATIONS NOT AFFECTED. The obligations, covenants, agreements and
duties of the Guarantor under this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall in no
way be affected or impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of any
of the following:
(a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the
Performance or observance by BVBC Trust of any express or implied
agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Preferred
Securities to be performed or observed by BVBC Trust;
(b) the extension of time for the payment by BVBC Trust of all or
any portion of the Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation
Distribution or any other sums payable under the terms of the Preferred
Securities or the extension of time for the performance of any other
obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with, the Preferred
Securities (other than an extension of time for payment of Distributions,
Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or other sum payable that
results from the extension of any interest payment period on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures or any extension of the maturity date of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures permitted by the Indenture);
(c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of
the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or
remedy conferred on the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Preferred
Securities, or any action on the part of BVBC Trust granting indulgence or
extension of any kind;
(d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of
any collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the
benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or
readjustment of debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, BVBC
Trust or any of the assets of BVBC Trust;
(e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the
Preferred Securities;
(f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed
hereby or hereby incurred; or
(g) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise
constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it
being the intent of this Section 5.03 that the obligations of the
Guarantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all
circumstances.
There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or obtain
consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing.
5.04 RIGHTS OF HOLDERS.
(a) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred
Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of
conducting of any proceeding for any remedy available to the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee in respect of this
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Preferred Securities Guarantee or exercising any trust or power conferred
upon the Preferred Guarantee Trustee under this Preferred Securities
Guarantee.
(b) Any Holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal
proceeding directly against the Guarantor to enforce its rights under this
Preferred Securities Guarantee, without first instituting a legal
proceeding against BVBC Trust, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee or any
other Person.
5.05 GUARANTEE OF PAYMENT. This Preferred Securities Guarantee
creates a Guarantee of payment and not of collection.
5.06 SUBROGATION. The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights
of the Holders of Preferred Securities against BVBC Trust in respect of any
amounts paid to such Holders by the Guarantor under this Preferred Securities
Guarantee; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent
required by mandatory provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any
right that it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement
or other agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this Preferred
Securities Guarantee, if, at the time of any such payment, any amounts are due
and unpaid under this Preferred Securities Guarantee. If any amount shall be
paid to the Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor
agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay over such amount
to the Holders.
5.07 INDEPENDENT OBLIGATIONS. The Guarantor acknowledges that its
obligations hereunder are independent of the obligations of BVBC Trust with
respect to the Preferred Securities, and that the Guarantor shall be liable as
principal and as debtor hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the
terms of this Preferred Securities Guarantee notwithstanding the occurrence of
any event referred to in subsections (a) through (g), inclusive, of Section
5.03.
ARTICLE VI
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
6.01 LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS. So long as any Preferred Securities
remain outstanding, if there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of
Default or an event of default under the Trust Agreement, then (a) the Guarantor
shall not declare or pay any dividend or distributions on, or redeem, purchase,
acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its capital
stock, (b) the Guarantor shall not make any payment of interest, principal or
premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities issued by
the Guarantor (including other Junior Subordinated Debentures) which rank pari
passu with or junior in interest to the Junior Subordinated Debentures or (c)
the Guarantor shall not make any guarantee payments with respect to any
guarantee by the guarantor of the debt securities of any subsidiary of the
Guarantor if such guarantee ranks pari passu or junior in interest to the Junior
Subordinated Debentures (other than (i) dividends or distributions in common
stock, (ii) any declaration of a dividend in connection with the implementation
of a shareholders' rights plan, or the issuance of stock under any such plan in
the future or the redemption or repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto,
(iii) payments under this Preferred Securities Guarantee and (iv)
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purchases of common stock related to the issuances of common stock or rights
under any of the Guarantor's benefit plans for its directors, officers or
employees).
6.02 RANKING. This Preferred Securities Guarantee will constitute an
unsecured obligation of the Guarantor and will rank subordinate and junior in
right of payment to all Senior and Subordinated Debt of the Guarantor.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
7.01 TERMINATION. This Preferred Securities Guarantee shall terminate upon
(a) full payment of the Redemption Price of all Preferred Securities, (b) upon
full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the Trust Agreement upon
liquidation of BVBC Trust or (c) upon distribution of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures to the Holders of the Preferred Securities. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, this Preferred Securities Guarantee will continue to be effective or
will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder of Preferred
Securities must restore payment of any sums paid under the Preferred Securities
or under this Preferred Securities Guarantee.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
8.01 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. All guaranties and agreements contained in
this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns,
receivers, trustees and representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the
benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities then outstanding.
8.02 AMENDMENTS. Except with respect to any changes that do not materially
adversely affect the rights of Holders (in which case no consent of Holders will
be required), this Preferred Securities Guarantee may only be amended with the
prior approval of the Holders of at least a Majority in liquidation amount of
the Preferred Securities; provided, however, that no amendment that affects the
rights, powers, duties, obligations or immunities of the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee shall be effective unless approved in writing by the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee. The provisions of Article VI of the Trust Agreement with respect to
meetings of Holders of the Securities apply to the giving of such approval.
8.03 NOTICES. All notices provided for in this Preferred Securities
Guarantee shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and
shall be delivered, telecopied or mailed by registered or certified mail, as
follows:
(a) If given to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, at the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee's mailing address set forth below (or such other address
as the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may give notice of to the Holders of the
Preferred Securities):
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WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19890
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
(b) If given to the Guarantor, at the Guarantor's mailing address set
forth below (or such other address as the Guarantor may give notice of to
the Holders of the Preferred Securities):
BLUE VALLEY BAN CORP.
11935 Riley
Overland Park, Kansas 66225-6128
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
(c) If given to any Holder of Preferred Securities, at the address set
forth on the books and records of BVBC Trust.
All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in
person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail,
postage prepaid except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or
cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given,
such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date
of such refusal or inability to deliver.
8.04 BENEFIT. This Preferred Securities Guarantee is solely for the
benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities and, subject to Section
3.01(a), is not separately transferable from the Preferred Securities.
8.05 GOVERNING LAW. THIS PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE, INCLUDING THE
IMMUNITIES AND THE STANDARD OF CARE OF THE TRUSTEE, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND
CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF KANSAS.
THIS PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE is executed as of the day and year first
above written.
BLUE VALLEY BAN CORP.,
as Guarantor
By:___________________________________
Robert Regnier
Chief Executive Officer
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WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as Preferred Guarantee Trustee
By:___________________________________
Name:_________________________________
Title:________________________________
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